Iraq’s Third National Action Plan for UN Security Council Resolution 1325 for the period (2025–2030) is a forward-looking strategic document that embodies a qualitative shift in how the Iraqi state addresses issues of women, peace, and security. This plan comes at a critical juncture marked by a transition toward comprehensive digitalization and recovery from the effects of armed conflict and displacement.
Iraq has come a long way since launching its first plan in 2014[1] to become a regional leader in adopting this agenda; however, the third plan stands out by adding the pillar of institutional reform to the core pillars of the plan, which are participation, prevention, protection, recovery, and reconstruction in the context of a rapidly evolving technological environment.
The central question driving this discussion is how to transform the digital space from a mere communication tool into a strategic means of empowering women to make decisions and contribute effectively to building sustainable peace.[2]
Iraq today faces a complex digital landscape, with over 38 million internet users[3] , making digital rights a prerequisite for full citizenship and political participation. However, this space remains fraught with risks[4] , particularly for female activists and leaders who face systematic campaigns of digital violence and blackmail aimed at deterring them from public engagement[5] . Therefore, linking digital rights to the Third National Plan is not an intellectual luxury, but a security and human rights necessity to ensure that women’s voices reach from Baghdad to the most marginalized and remote areas.
